The Niu Jie Mosque is on the street of the same name, which literally means Ox Street. Located in southern Beijing's Xuanwu District, it is the largest of Beijing's 68 mosques and was built in 996 AD during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). It is one of North China's most important mosques.

The main building inside the mosque will be renovated and more facilities will be built, such as a prayer hall and a bathhouse for female Muslims, a relics exhibition hall and a reception room for foreign guests.

The mosque's water, electricity and heating systems will also be renovated.

The area of the mosque's grounds is expected to expand from the current 6,000 square meters to 8,900 square meters upon completion of the renovation project, according to Yang Wenbo, director of the Ethnic, Religious and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Xuanwu District government.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Niu Jie Mosque has undergone three renovations -- in 1955, 1979 and 1996.

More than 200 Muslims go to the mosque each day and the number rises to between 700 and 800 on the Day of Jumu'ah (Friday), said Bai Zengfu of the Xuanwu District Islam Association.

"More than 2,500 Muslims went to the mosque during Eid al-Fitr (the fast-breaking festival) that fell on December 6 last year," Bai added.

The street where the mosque is located is the largest area in Beijing inhabited by Muslims.

The street is as old as the mosque. Of the more than 50,000 people living in the area, around one-fifth are Muslims.

Beijing has about 250,000 Muslims overall.

Bai Enhang, 92, who has lived in the area since he was born, said he was very happy about the renovation project. He said: "We all hope the renovation project will be completed as early as possible and we are grateful for the government's religious policy."

Projects to improve the adjacent area are being implemented smoothly.

A 10,000-square-metre grassy area has been built around the mosque. The road in front of it has been widened to 40 meters from 8 meters.

In 1997, the Beijing municipal government launched a project to improve local people's living conditions by demolishing old and shabby houses and building new multi-story buildings in the area.

The first phase of the project has been completed and 3,300 families have moved into new homes. The second phase is expected to be completed by 2004.

Clothes, handicraft and food shops and halal restaurants have been built along the 670-metre-long street and are expected to open for business very soon. Beijing's first halal mutton chain store opened to customers on December 20 last year.

"Today's Ox Street is wider and more beautiful," said Bai Yuzhen, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years. "It's so convenient to live here as various facilities have been built."

(China Daily January 7, 2003)